For the first time in human history more people now live and towns and cities than in rural areas. In the wealthier countries of the world, the transition from predominantly rural to urban habitation is more or less complete. But in many parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America, urban populations are expanding rapidly. Current UN projections indicate that virtually all population growth in the world over the next 30 years will be absorbed by towns and cities in developing countries. These simple demographic facts have profound implications for those concerned with understanding and addressing the pressing global development challenges of reducing poverty, promoting economic growth, improving human security and confronting environmental change. This revised and expanded second edition of Cities and Development explores the dynamic relationship between urbanism and development from a global perspective. The book surveys a wide range of topics, including: the historical origins of world urbanization; the role cities play in the process of economic development; the nature of urban poverty and the challenge of promoting sustainable livelihoods; the complexities of managing urban land, housing, infrastructure and urban services; and the spectres of endemic crime, conflict and violence in urban areas. This updated volume also contains two entirely new chapters: one that examines the links between urbanisation and environmental change, and a second that focuses on urban governance and politics. Adopting a multidisciplinary perspective, the book critically engages with debates in urban studies, geography and international development studies. Each chapter includes supplements in the form of case studies, chapter summaries, questions for discussion and suggested further readings. The book is targeted at upper-level undergraduate and graduate students interested in geography, urban studies and international development studies, as well as policy makers, urban planners and development practitioners.

In a squatter neighbourhood of Nairobi (Kenya), sexual division of labour in the informal sector is examined. Five categories of neighbourhood iinformal sector activity were analysed: the entertainment industry, rental of habitat, shop-keeping, small-scale production or services and hawking. Capital investment and costs and incomes were registered. Women owner-operators were predominant in beer-brewing and prostitution, habitat rental and vegetable retailing sectors. A correlation between female barrenness and business success was noted. It is concluded that women sell in the iinformal urban market place the skills they normally practice in the home. It is recommended that urban iinformal sector studies emphasise gender issues.

A world more urban... The world is undergoing massive urbanization, and is projected to increase from three to over four billion city dwellers, mostly in the developing world, within 15 years. This historic shift is producing dramatic effects on human well-being and the environment. ...but less poor Unplanned shanty-towns without basic services are not an inevitable consequence of urbanization and slums are not explained by poverty alone. Urban misery also stems from misguided policies, inappropriate legal frameworks, dysfunctional markets, poor governance, and not least, lack of political will. Urbanization and economic development go hand-in-hand and the productivity of the urban economy can and should benefit everyone. Living conditions for the urban poor can be dramatically improved with proper solutions, backed by decisive, concerted action. More Urban - Less Poor brings order to the complex and important field of urban development in developing and transitional countries. Written in an accessible style, the book examines how cities grow, their economic development, urban poverty, housing and environmental problems. It also examines how to face these challenges through governance and management of urban growth, the finance and delivery of services, and finding a role for development cooperation. This is essential reading for development professionals, researchers, students and others working on any facet of urban development and management in our rapidly urbanizing world. Published with SIDA

Urbanization got an impetus during 1980s and 1990s due to advances in transportation and telecommunicationand further momentum was provided by globalization. During this period many Asian Countries experienced both economic boom and population increase. UN HABITAT (2006) pointed out that Asia and Africa will host largest urban population in 21st century and cities will continue to be sites of extreme inequality. It is feared that Asian cities may not be able to cope with the ongoing urbanization and urbanization of poverty further adds to the challenges. This edited volume addresses to the challenges thrown by urban poverty for sustainable cities in developing countries and also presents some strategies adopted in these countries to deal with these challenges. The volume contains seventeen articles which are divided into three sections. Section-1, entitled 'Urban Poverty in Developing Countries: Some Issues', contains five articles dealing with urban poverty and delineates certain issues related to it. Section-II, entitled 'Urban Poverty in India: Empirical Reality', contains five articles which present the empirical situation of urban poverty in India. Section-III, entitled 'Urban poverty and Strategies for Sustainable Cities', anthologizes seven articles dealing with some strategies to grapple with the problem of urban poverty in developing countries and the outcome of these efforts. All these efforts to achieve sustainable cities are not producing desired results. Cities cannot be sustainable if rural areas, neighborhoods and communities are not sustainable. So focus must shift to these settlements as well.